DG NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu 

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, says the news that Director General of the centre, Chikwe Ihekweazu is in quarantine over COVID19 is false.

This was contained in a tweet by the centre on Tuesday after news that its DG was quarantined after returning from China .

According to NCDC, “While he was part of WHO high-level mission to China, he returned healthy, has tested negative and has no symptoms”.

NCDC however noted that he’s in self-isolation for 14 days in accordance with NCDC’s advisory.

Mr Chikwe Ihekweazu also in a twitter message in response to news of his being quarantined said,

“I am well and have continued my duties from home since my return from China as part of the WHO-China Mission on COVID19”

“The rumour that I am sick or in quarantine is obviously false”.

“I look forward to returning to the office after 14 days of self-isolation”, he said.

He added that one of the most important missions he had the honour to be part of is the WHO-China Mission on COVID19.

“Lessons from working with some of the most hardworking experts in China, WHO and other countries will guide us as Nigeria responds to 1st COVID19 case’, he added

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had told the National Assembly on Tuesday when asked to brief the senate leadership on the level of Nigeria’s preparedness to contain the virus that Mr Ihekweazu went into self-quarantine after his return from China to Nigeria and will remain in quarantine in his house for 14 days.